It's a question you've been asking us for a little while now. And, based on all the posts, emails, petitions, and letters we received following the announcement that the Insane in the Membrane achievement would no longer be in available in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, we started to wonder if maybe we had gone a bit loco.

So, we went back to the drawing board. After carefully reviewing all the feedback and discussing the matter amongst ourselves, we're now happy to report that we will be making the following changes to the Feat of Strength:

Exalted reputation with Shen'dralar will no longer be required. As this is the only reputation that will be unobtainable in Cataclysm, we've simply decided to remove it as a requirement.

For those who already earned Exalted reputation with this faction, don't worry -- we haven't forgotten about your accomplishments. In a future patch, we'll be adding in a separate Feat of Strength to recognize your deep love of Dire Maul.

Bloodsail Buccaneer faction reputation will remain in-game. Also, to ensure that this change does not negatively affect Cataclysm quest progression in Stranglethorn Vale, Booty Bay Bruisers will now provide reputation up through Exalted.

This will ensure that players will still be able to attain Insane in the Membrane and "The Insane" title in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Please note, however, that these changes will not take effect until The Shattering in patch 4.0.3a -- excluding the separate "Exalted with Shen'dralar" feat, which will be introduced in a future, but currently-undetermined patch.

And, of course, those who are already Insane in the Membrane will retain their title and current Feat of Strength. Shine on, you crazy diamonds.

The unfortunate reality is, when it was announced that the Insane title would be removed, Blizzard got a ton of responses from people who would have never actually gone for the Title anyway, but jumped on the bandwagon just in case they ever get a wild hair. The people who are hurt by this most recent development are much fewer in numbers than the players out there that are lazy, but love to find a reason to whine.

Even though the latest announcement is a much crueler decision than it would have been to remove the Title, we probably don't have the numbers to compete with the whiners for action from Blizzard. Blizzard, you are taking care of the wrong players in this case. We may be a smaller group, but by completing the achievement in the past, we have already shown that we are more dedicated to this issue than those who haven't bothered.

1.Just for clarity, Insane in the Membrane will not be removed in Cataclysm. We can only confirm this one for you, but since it's undoubtedly one of the most brain-melting achievements, we thought it nice to let you know that you don't have to rush to have this done before the expansion.
2. Insane in the Membrane is a feat of strength, not an achievement. Feats are things that you can't be guaranteed to complete, which is why they're feats and not achievements. Most of them are actually now impossible to complete, and this feat will join a long list of "you had to be there" moments in WoW time.

The feat isn't being removed of course, those who have it will retain it, however; some of the requirements are, so it will no longer be able to be completed by anyone who has not already done so.

It's possible that in some very specific situations where someone has completed the reputations which are being removed, but not others that will still be in the game, that it can still be completed. But it's something we're waiting for clarity on, and will let you know as soon as we do.

Those things being said...
As one of the few who got this, I find it aggrivating that Blizzard decided to simply remove a reputation from the requirement, thus making it less time consuming/costly to complete. The Feat has been around since *at least* the begining of Wrath, which was 2 years ago today. People have had ample time to get it done, but with the threat of it becoming unobtainable, there has been a huge outcry. Granted, Blizzard did in fact state the Feat wasn't being changed/removed so no one needed to feel rushed. For whatever reason, they changed their mind, which is rather common, and the Feat was to be put in a glass display case along with the rest of the Feats that are done and gone, ie. Amani War Bear, Brewfest Steins, WoW Anniversaries, Collector's Edition pets, etc. Rightfully so - it's a very special and rare thing that should not be around forever.

For those who have already obtained their title or at least finished the Shen'dralar part of it are basically getting a kick in the teeth with this change. To try and compensate, Blizzard wants to give us a 'consolation' prize of another Feat specifically for getting Exhalted with those odd elves... maybe. Oh goody. Regarding those who had the 'rug pulled out from under them', so to speak, again... you had more than enough time to get it done. Personally, I'm an avid pet and mount collector, so when I learned that the ZG mounts are going away, I simply started to farm more. If they drop for me, awesome. If not, oh well.

At this point, it's about the principle and maybe some bragging rights. I mean, I got the Loremaster title before it was nerfed - less quests are required now. When I see someone else rockin' Loremaster that they just got, kudos to them... but a small part of me thinks, "I got it when it harder." Pardon the elitism - part of the WOOHOO! factor comes from doing things before they're softened up, when they really mean something - that goes for anything really, out in the real world or otherwise. Yay for pride and competition in a game! As I said, principle.

im happy that i'll probably be able to do it now being a lazy git as i am , but it would really be cool and even more fun if they would also add another title for the hardworkin players that has done it including the shen'dralar rep.

it would really be cool and even more fun if they would also add another title for the hardworkin players that has done it including the shen'dralar rep.

Agreed. To me, a title like "of the Shen'dralar" would be quite pointless. Even nerfed, the new Insane in the Membrane is still more of an accomplishment than Shen'dralar alone, so I would never display my Shen'dralar title. Having 2 insane titles seems the right way to go:

After Blizz said that they will only remove Shen`dalar faction in Cataclysm and made Guards in Botty Bay give rep till Exalted with Buccaneers, I`m unsure if they mean that u NEED Exalted with Buccaneers to get the achivement done in Cataclysm. Now i`m Honored with Buccaneers and exalted with Steamwheedle Cartel and i only miss Darkmoon Faire, which i wont finish it, untill Cata comes. If in Cataclysm u need Exalted with Buccaneers to get the Insane achiv, then i have a big problem. It would be horribile if i need to ruin my rep with Botty Bay to get exalted with Buccaneers then redo my Steamwheedle Cartel rep back up.
So do we need Exalted with Buccanners in Cataclysm to get the Insane in the Membrane achivement or not?
Thank you in advance to anyone that will be kind enough to clarify me on this one.

I'm Honored with Buccaneers and exalted with Steamwheedle Cartel and i only miss Darkmoon Faire, which i wont finish it, untill Cata comes. If in Cataclysm u need Exalted with Buccaneers to get the Insane achiv, then i have a big problem. It would be horribile if i need to ruin my rep with Botty Bay to get exalted with Buccaneers then redo my Steamwheedle Cartel rep back up.
So do we need Exalted with Buccanners in Cataclysm to get the Insane in the Membrane achivement or not?
Thank you in advance to anyone that will be kind enough to clarify me on this one.

I am in a similar position. I believe there is strong possibility that you will now need Bloodsail Exalted instead of just honored. To be perfectly honest though it makes zero difference to someone like me. If Bloodsail Buccaneers exalted is now a realistic possibility I'll still do it regardless of whether I need it for the insane or not.

The Steamwheedle and Bloodsail rep grinds combined were only about 1/8 of the total insane grind to start with anyway so in the grand scheme of things, I don't think this is really a "big" problem at all. I think most of the insane folks out there would happily trade another 20 hours of grinding for Steamwheedle rep in exchange for being able to get another exalted reputation done.

I, too, am curious if the requirement for Bloodsail is changing. My rep stands at honored, which is the current requirement. Most of the posts on this forum seem to imply that exalted will now be needed. Anyone able to confirm this? If it's true, I better get my DMF finished pronto to complete this achievement.

Originally Posted by Isil

After Blizz said that they will only remove Shen`dalar faction in Cataclysm and made Guards in Botty Bay give rep till Exalted with Buccaneers, I`m unsure if they mean that u NEED Exalted with Buccaneers to get the achivement done in Cataclysm. Now i`m Honored with Buccaneers and exalted with Steamwheedle Cartel and i only miss Darkmoon Faire, which i wont finish it, untill Cata comes. If in Cataclysm u need Exalted with Buccaneers to get the Insane achiv, then i have a big problem. It would be horribile if i need to ruin my rep with Botty Bay to get exalted with Buccaneers then redo my Steamwheedle Cartel rep back up.
So do we need Exalted with Buccanners in Cataclysm to get the Insane in the Membrane achivement or not?
Thank you in advance to anyone that will be kind enough to clarify me on this one.

It has never been required to have ALL reps at their required level at the same time. So long as you had Steamwheedle at exalted at one time, it should still count towards the FoS. If you're like me and want as many exalted reps as you can get, then that's the only reason you'd need to bother getting it back up to exalted.

After spending so much time (and gold) to get the Insane title on my main, I'm really bummed out that they are making it easier for people now. I think the Shen'dralar was one of the most expensive reps for me to grind (PBD's cost about 250g on my server and the librams were going for around 200g each). I also did my fair share of grinding for them too.

My only hope is that it's a title worth wearing (if there even is a title). Before I even knew what went into the Insane title, I saw someone with it, and I instantly "had to have it" and the research and the process started for me. I want the Shen'dralar FoS to be equally desirable so that everyone else that doesn't have it, has something to be envious of. A special mount would be an awesome reward too. Something to parade around with that causes people to wonder "how did you get that [title/mount]? Tabards are lame ... no one notices them.

"Scarab Lord" isn't obtainable anymore, despite the number of people complaining, and that was a 10 hour window to get that title. People have had almost 2 years to get this one, and now they complain 'cause they didn't do it in time, and Blizz caves to their QQ'ing and makes it all better for them.

The ZG mounts are going away. I never spent real time/efforts to get these, and I'm jealous of those that have these mount. But most of them actually put in effort. It's my loss and I understand that. If I complain enough, will they create some way where it will be all-of-sudden really easy for me to get these mounts? That's what they are doing here with the Insane title.

It's a FoS for a reason. Just because you didn't bother with it until it was "too late" to get it done, doesn't mean it should be handed over to you with ease.

Some people are still working on their insane achievement and therefore you do not remove the achievment from the game. Furthermore you nerf it because the faction is removed or changed (whatever).

That means you are rewarding people who have NOT completed yet?
Why favor those who are not done over those who already have the achivement?

I think you should remove the achivment from the game. (== reward those who completed in time)

Now this sucks for those who havent completed yet but hey!, you had the same terms as the rest of us. If you cant complete the achievement within reasonable time then mebbe this title is not for you Its not called "The casual" or "The insane who had 1 year to finish but couldt".

Thank You Blizzard. The day I heard that Shend'dralar Rep, was being removed from the game I hit the ah running with the 76 P.B.D's I had been collecting over the past 6 months. Selling then off one by one from the price range of 350g-550g. and within 3 days of completely selling off all that I had acquired. you announce that I can still achieve "Insane In The Membrane". wow all I can say is THANK YOU. now I have plenty of bank going into cata and still have one more FoS to look forward to completing (ofcourse not sure if its gonna be fun during the grind)

In the past few months, I've had a bunch of people asking my advice on how to get the Insane title, and I was always willing to help. In the past 2 weeks is when I noticed that they had actually started trying to work on it.

Since I've learned about this change, I have neglected to inform anyone that asks that they won't need Shen'dralar. Is it wrong of me to want to see people realize what went into that part of the achieve?

back before all of the talk about it, i was thinking that the achievement would be taken out of the game (while those who already have it would keep it and its title) and that would have been cool.

even keeping the achievement would be cool, if it was still as difficult (and hey, maybe even with the shen-dralar rep gone, maybe they will scale the difficulty of rep grinds with the other factions....although i highly doubt it)

but taking out one of the most difficult to obtain parts of the achievement, that's not cool for those of us who already have the achievement. And giving us an achievement for shen-dralar rep is not a worthy compromise. For me, and probably a lot of other insane peeps, i got the FoS for one and only reason....the title....Not because its rare or difficult, but because i wanted that specific title. The fact that it was difficult only made it that much more special and awesome-giving us an FoS for shen rep is not only an unworthy compromise, its an INSULT. Even giving us a title for the shen rep would be an insult, because i for one didnt do this rep grind for a generic, boring, "of the blah blah" title.

Good Compromises:
giving current insane in the membrane people another title relating to being insane (not "of the blah blah blah fucking blah"

giving current insane in the membrane people a special mount or something that visually shows them as being crazy, something funny, something awesome

changing the requirements of the new achievement so that we would need to get another different rep in order to achieve it, and then for those who got the new and the old would go a special prize (not just a useless achievement) and thats pretty much it for my thoughts on compromises.

having the new version of the achievement give no title

i realize that blizzard wants to make the game easier so more people can play, and although i don't agree with this strategy i understand it. What i don't understand is making EVERYTHING in the game easier - you need to give the veterans something extra to work for.

now for the last part of my rant, achievements in general. The only reason i wanted this FoS is for the title, because that title is both rare (for now) and awesome. I did not do this for a retarded achievement, or retarded achievement points.
I FUCKING HATE ACHIEVEMENTS
both in wow and in every console, i hate them

i dont want a retarded exalted with shen rep achievement...why the fuck would i want that.....i just...cant even comprehend what blizzard is thinking.

To all the ppl who keeps whining over spending so much gold on mats. The only thing you need to buy is pristine diamonds and shards.
If you buy the librams, it's your own faulth you ruined your income.

I spend around 30-40k around one Week. (during blizzcon or so) and about now i already made more money with the stuff from insane (Card Sets and Single Cards that i dont need anymore) than i had Before.